How to hire a controls project manager

How to hire a controls project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step controls project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a controls project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new controls project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a controls project manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a controls project manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a controls project manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a controls project manager that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of controls project managers.

   Type of Controls Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Controls Project Manager	Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.	$37-79
   General Superintendent	A general superintendent is primarily in charge of overseeing projects and programs, ensuring operations adhere to standards and requirements. In the construction industry, a general superintendent supervises the daily procedures in a construction site to ensure the project's completion within budget, schedule, and quality standards... Show more	$25-51
   Superintendent	Superintendents oversee the administration of schools in a specific school district. They manage the educational programs of each school and create strategic decisions to ensure that the students are learning important subjects... Show more	$27-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Project Controls
   • Construction Management
   • Risk Management
   • Cost Control
   • Project Execution
   • Project Cost
   • Primavera P6
   • Oversight
   • Control Systems
   • Work Breakdown Structure
   • HVAC
   • Construction Projects
   • Project Performance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage EVMS to assess project status & monitor schedule and costs.
   • Manage integrated product team (IPT) coordinating mechanical, electrical, and software development.
   • Perform EVM, update percent complete, managing invoices, prepare end of month reports, and perform change management procedures.
   • Design and manage creation of facility electrical systems including PLC controls.
   • Manage all procurement activities including purchasing, subcontracting, expediting, transportation, and logistics.
   • Manage implementation of specify HVAC / mechanical projects specializing in BACNET and LonWorks base control components for building automation.

   More controls project manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your controls project manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A controls project manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a controls project manager in Alabama may be lower than in Idaho, and an entry-level controls project manager usually earns less than a senior-level controls project manager. Additionally, a controls project manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average controls project manager salary

   $114,682yearly

   $55.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level controls project manager salary

   $79,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average controls project manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$144,638	$70
   2	Texas	$124,203	$60
   3	Arizona	$120,719	$58
   4	Utah	$120,500	$58
   5	Washington	$115,943	$56
   6	Georgia	$115,373	$55
   7	Michigan	$112,277	$54
   8	Indiana	$106,464	$51
   9	Maryland	$106,314	$51
   10	New York	$104,776	$50
   11	Virginia	$102,375	$49
   12	Pennsylvania	$101,319	$49
   13	Massachusetts	$101,236	$49
   14	Colorado	$99,925	$48
   15	Minnesota	$99,737	$48
   16	Ohio	$99,099	$48
   17	Florida	$99,058	$48
   18	North Carolina	$96,180	$46
   19	Missouri	$91,195	$44
   20	Kansas	$83,213	$40

   Average controls project manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cheniere Energy	$175,739	$84.49
   2	The Citadel	$166,447	$80.02
   3	Apple	$164,481	$79.08	9
   4	BP America Inc	$161,127	$77.46
   5	Ameresco	$142,468	$68.49	15
   6	Pattern Energy Group	$137,934	$66.31	6
   7	Tallgrass Energy	$130,406	$62.70
   8	San Diego Gas & Electric	$129,145	$62.09
   9	Parsons	$128,928	$61.98	112
   10	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$128,415	$61.74
   11	Technip USA Corporation	$127,738	$61.41
   12	Citi	$127,274	$61.19	1
   13	TEKsystems	$124,604	$59.91	24
   14	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$123,767	$59.50	7
   15	Bayer	$123,301	$59.28	1
   16	Turner & Townsend	$122,856	$59.07	275
   17	Dibble	$122,581	$58.93	9
   18	Koch Industries	$121,707	$58.51	3
   19	Amazon	$121,604	$58.46	306
   20	Tesla	$121,174	$58.26

4. Writing a controls project manager job description

   A controls project manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a controls project manager job description:

   Controls project manager job description example

   At Trane TechnologiesTM and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King®, we create innovative climate solutions for buildings, homes, and transportation that challenge what's possible for a sustainable world. We're a team that dares to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities. We believe in a better future when we uplift others and enable our people to thrive at work and at home. We boldly go.
   The Controls Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating and guiding Trane Controls Engineering projects from concept through delivery to customers. This role is a project leader who establishes and maintains close working relationships with project stakeholders and is a positive, proactive and creative problem-solver! This role will be responsible for ensuring that technical and business objectives are met through our stage-gate product development process (PDP).
   
   CORE JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (others may be added):
   Coordinate and assign tasks, establish project schedules, and project budgets. Ability to work with other departments, leading through influence, mining and analyzing data and proactive communication to ensure successful project performance. Proactively manage and minimize project risks and develop appropriate mitigation and contingency plans. Document project activities, issues, concerns and status to keep management informed and enable timely resolution of project problems. Ensure quality assurance standards are achieved. Effectively meet the needs of internal and external customers. Keep team motivated, focused on project goals/objectives and redirect to meet due dates.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology (or equivalent discipline) and at least 3 years of work experience in an electrical or electronics field is required. Master's Degree is a plus.
   
   KEY SKILLS or COMPETENCIES:
   Exceptional verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills. Experience leading small or large projects. Reliable planning capability with good attention to detail. Organizational courage to raise issues and provide solutions to problems. Desire for Project Management certification.
   
   Annual Compensation Range is $70,000 to $123,000 annually. Disclaimer: This salary range is based on US national averages. Actual pay is a result of seniority/experience level, merit and geographic location where the actual work is performed.
   
   We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.
   
   SWE22PM

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right controls project manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your controls project manager job on Zippia to find and recruit controls project manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting controls project managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new controls project manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the controls project manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new controls project manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a controls project manager?